Direct observation of conductance fluctuations of a single-atom tunneling contact

Using a cryogenic scanning tunneling microscope, the dynamics of lateral translations of a single silver atom adsorbed on Ag(111) were investigated with a time resolution of 10 ns. Elevated tunneling currents passed through the tip close to the adsorbed atom induce sudden adsorption site changes, which are reflected by two-level fluctuations of the tunneling conductance. The voltage dependence of the fluctuation rate reveals different local heating of the adsorbed atom in different positions relative to the tip.